COMMAND-LINE INTERFACEA command-line interface (CLI) is a mechanism for interacting with a computer operating system or software by typing commands to perform specific tasks.
This text-only interface contrasts with the use of a mouse pointer with a graphical user interface (GUI) to click on options, or menus on a text user interface (TUI) to select options. This method of instructing a computer to perform a given task is referred to as "entering" a command: the system waits for the user to conclude the submitting of the text command by pressing the "Enter" key. A command-line interpreter then receives, analyses, and executes the requested command. Upon completion, the command usually returns output to the user in the form of text lines on the CLI. This output may be an answer if the command was a question, or otherwise a summary of the operation.
COMMAND-LINE INTERFACEA command-line interface (CLI) is a mechanism for interacting with a computer operating system or software by typing commands to perform specific tasks.
This text-only interface contrasts with the use of a mouse pointer with a graphical user interface (GUI) to click on options, or menus on a text user interface (TUI) to select options. This method of instructing a computer to perform a given task is referred to as "entering" a command: the system waits for the user to conclude the submitting of the text command by pressing the "Enter" key. A command-line interpreter then receives, analyses, and executes the requested command. Upon completion, the command usually returns output to the user in the form of text lines on the CLI. This output may be an answer if the command was a question, or otherwise a summary of the operation.
By Elaine Southwell
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Command-line_interface
picture source:http: http://www.cs.colorado.edu/ugrad/seniorproject/projects/shots/party/command.png